Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Single-seat fighter interceptor

Power Plant:

One 5,910 lbst General Electric J-47-GE27 turbojet

Specifications:

Armament:

Six 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Colt-Browning machine guns

History:

In November 1944 North American initiated the design (NA.134) of a high-performance fighter aircraft to be powered by a turbojet engine and in May 1945 a contract was received for three XP-86 single-seat fighters. In June 1945 a mock-up was shown to Army Air Force personnel and on 1 October 1947 the first prototype (45-59597), powered by a General Electric J-35 engine, was flown from Muroc dry lake in California by George Welch.  On 26 April 1948 it exceeded Mach 1 in a dive. The aircraft crashed in September 1952, but the other two XP-86s (45-59598 and 45-59599) continued the test programme into 1953.

The first production model was the F-86A-1 (47-605) first flown on 20 May 1948 with a J-47-GE-1 engine. On 15 September that year an F-86A-1 set a world speed record of 1,079.809 km/h (670.981 mph).  Some 33 F-86A-1s were built, production moving to the F-86A-5, which was initially supplied to the 94th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Group at March Air Force Base in California. The F-86B was to differ from the F-86A in having larger tyres but was not built; and the F-86C was to be a long-range escort fighter with a Pratt & Whitney J-48 engine with afterburner, six 20 mm cannon and nose radar.  Two prototypes were built, and it was later re-designated YF-93 but it did not enter production.

In 1949 North American re-designed the Sabre as an all-weather interceptor to meet Soviet bombers. Orders were issued for 2 YF-86Ds and 122 F-86Ds, the first two being F-86A conversions. The fuselage was lengthened and deepened to accommodate the J-47-GE-17 engine with an afterburner. It had a Hughes Aircraft Corp fire control system and Mighty Mouse rockets. An example (F-86D-20 – 51-2945) set a world speed record at the Salton Sea, South California on 19 November 1952 of 1,124.104 km/h (698.505 mph), this being broken eight months later by an F-86D-35 (51-6145) with a speed of 1,151.771 km/h (715.697 mph).  The F-86D was the subject of much development during its career, the F-86D-45 and later series having the 7,650 lbst J-47-GE-33 engine.  At one stage the USAF had 20 Wings equipped with the F-86D. US production took place at the Company’s Inglewood plant in California.

The next model produced was the F-86E, the first being 50-599. By this time Canadair had commenced production as the Sabre Mk 4, these being supplied to, amongst other air forces, the USA as the F-86E-6. The first F-86F-1 flew on 19 March 1952 with a 5,910 lbst J-47-GE-27 engine. At this stage the US and its Allies were having problems in Korea and F-86Fs were quickly placed on board aircraft carriers and shipped to South Korea. Development of the F-86F continued apace to meet the threat of MiG 15s in combat over Korea, later model engines of increased power being fitted to new series aircraft. The F-86F-5 was fitted with 757 litre (167 Imp gal) drop tanks. The F-86F-25 and F-86F-30 series had the “6-3” wing and additional hard-points for bombs or fuel tanks. A number of F-86F-30s were fitted with reconnaissance cameras, becoming the RF-86F, being fitted with a 24 inch K.22 camera and two 20 inch K.24 cameras. Two (52-5016 and 53-1228) were converted to TF-86F standard with dual controls. The F-86G had the J-47-GE-20 engine but only 16 examples were delivered.

The F-86H was built for the fighter-bomber role, being fitted with the 8,920 lbst General Electric 73 engine, had the capability of carrying atomic bombs, and had a larger fuel capacity which extended the range. However, it was not particularly successful and, although three Wings were equipped with the F-86H, they were soon relegated to National Guard duties.

Last variants built were the F-86K and F-86L, the former being built both in the United States and Italy, many F-86Ls being modified from existing F-86D airframes.  Based on the F-86D, the F-86K had the J-47GE-17 engine and was simpler to maintain. The first F-86K was flown on 15 July 1954, the first Italian example flying on 23 May 1955.  It was supplied to many NATO air forces under the Mutual Defence Air Programme, eg Italy, France, West Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Belgium and some 430 to the Royal Air Force. Some were modified to use the Sidewinder air-to-air missile.

The Sabre proved its worth as a fighter in the war in Korea, which commenced following the crossing of the 38th Parallel by North Korean forces on 25 June 1950. This was escalated with the entry of Communist China into the conflict and the appearance of the MiG 15. USAF Sabres claimed 814 enemy aircraft for the loss of 78 Sabres. The F-86 was committed to the war on 8 November 1950, the first unit, the 4th Fighter Group, operating its aircraft from the Kimpo base near Seoul, the first kill being claimed two days later by the Commanding Officer of the 336th Fighter Squadron.

The Sabre was licence built in Australia, Canada, Japan and Italy, and was built in large numbers, being operated by many of the world’s air forces. In Canada it was fitted with the Orenda series of turbojets and variants ran from the Mk 1 to the Mk 6. Canadian production took place at the Canadair Ltd facility at Cartierville, 1,815 being delivered. The Sabre was also adapted for service with the US Navy, becoming the FJ-1 Fury, these aircraft being built at the Company’s Colombus plant. The F-86 series was built in large numbers, including 2,540 F-86Fs; 333 F-86Es; and 2,504 F-86Ds. The National Chinese Air Force received a number of F-86s, these being involved in combat in June 1958 with Chinese MiG 15s and MiG 17s over Quemoy and Malsu in Taiwan, later using Sidewinder missiles.

Many examples survive around the world in museums, and a small number have been converted to civil use in the United States, regularly being seen at aviation events. A few examples of the North American built Sabre have been seen in Australasia. In March 1987 an ex-Philippine Air Force F-86F (c/n 284 – 52-4904) fitted with a J-47-GE-27 turbojet engine arrived at Ardmore, New Zealand but corrosion problems meant that its rebuild to airworthiness was placed on hold. It was placed in storage pending a decision as to its fate. An Australian CA-27 Sabre, painted as an F-86 (51-2747 – FU-747), was held by the Zuccoli Museum at Toowoomba, QLD.  This aircraft (A94-954) was eventually sold and taken to New Zealand for restoration for an American collector.

Five ex-Ethiopian Air Force F-86Fs arrived at Ardmore, NZ for restoration to static display for museums by AvSpecs, one of these (c/n 275 – 51-13240 – Ethiopian AF 275) painted as 52-4460 / FU-460 being earmarked for a museum in Russia. The other aircraft included: c/n 277 serial 176-427 (ex USAF 51-13496 – Ethiopian AF 277 ) marked as [5] 12910 / FU-910 which ended up at Tauranga for a museum. The other three aircraft were: c/n 278 (52-4650 – ex Ethopian AF 278); c/n 269 (52-5219 – ex Ethiopian AF 269); and c/n 284 (52-5520 – ex Ethiopian AF 284). These five aircraft are part of the AvSpecs collection of aircraft at Ardmore. They had been placed in storage in South Africa in 1996 until they were shipped to New Zealand in 2004.  Other US serials known for this group include 51-13246 and 51-13496.

In addition to the above aircraft, an F-86D (serial 53-4036) found its way to Australia.  In 2000 it was in storage with DMI at Tucson, Arizona before being sold to National Southwest Alloys, then to the Arnold Aircraft Museum, and eventually found its way to become part of the collection of the Derelict Aircraft Museum near Nagambie, VIC.